Bread slicing machine



H. J. CRINER 2,150,426

BREAD SLICING MACHINE March 14,- 1939.

Filed Nov. 6, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Q Q Q C 2 INVENTOR.

r i I M W H. J. CRINER BREAD SLICING- MACHINE Mar ch 14, 1939.

Filed Nov. 6, 1957 3 Sheets-:Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

March 14, 1939.

H. J. CRINER BREAD SLICING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 19:57 3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES BREAD SLIGING MACHINE Harry J. Criner, Davenport, Iowa, assignor of onehalf to A. G. Bush, Davenport, Iowa Application November 6, 1937, Serial No. 113.134 Claims. '(01. 146-48) My invention relates to improvements in spacing apparatus and is particularly adapted for use on bread slicing machines.

The objects of my invention are to 'provide means by which the spacing of a plurality of uniformly spaced blocks or units, mounted upon a shaft or other support, may be changed uniformly without changing their angular position upon the shaft or support; to provide improved means by which a plurality of supports for the slicing blades of a bread slicing machine of the reciprocating type may be uniformly and simultaneously changed so as to provide for cutting either thinner or thicker slices, within fixed limits; to provide means by which the spacing of one or more uni-- formly spaced members adapted to guide and space the blades of a slicing machine of the endless band-blade type may be uniformly and simultaneously changed to provide means by which a plurality of co-acting threads of different pitches may be used to uniformly spread and uniformly gather a plurality of members slidably mounted upon a shaft.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a band-blade slicing machine, with one formof my apparatus mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is-a rear elevation of the machine with the same form of spacing apparatus mounted Figure 3 is an enlarged detail in section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view of an alternate means I for retracting the movable members, employing a compression spring to retract them;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the shaft in section and shows a side view of one of the spacing members or units mounted thereon;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of a part of the lower series of spacing .members, with slotted fingers secured therein in section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows side and end views of one of the spacing rings, with pin for securing, same to its shaft; j

. Figure 8 shows edge and side elevations of one of the steel washers or separators; Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 10, which is an enlarged detail showing my preferred form of retracting means, comprising a block threaded upon the end of the carrying shaft, with a relatively coarse thread so proportioned that the block will travel a distance equal to the sum of the distances the spacing units relative to the plane of the slicing blades, to be varied;

Figure 14 is an enlarged detailof an alternate form of means for retracting the spacing units;

Figures 15, 16 and 17 show my apparatus as applied to supporting units which carry the slicing blades of a reciprocating siicingmachine;

Figure 15 shows the side frames of such a machine in section with one. of the reciprocating frames partly in section;

Figure 16 shows a'top or plan view of a pair of reciprocating frames mounted in the side frame of a slicing machine with thereciprocating frames in section on the line l6-l8 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 shows a sectional elevation on the line l|-l of Figure 15.

While my invention is primarily designed for slicing. machines of both-the band-blade and re-- the shafts are revolvably=mounted with projecting ends upon which hand wheels, l5-l I, may be secured to rotate the shafts, l6 and I 8.

Each shaft has a slot or groove, 30-42, cut therein extending lengthwise of the shaft. A suitable stop, la, may be mounted upon the shaft and secured by a pin or other suitable means.

Upon each shaft 1 mount a plurality of spacing rings, 28, each of which is provided with a central bore, 28', fitting smoothly uponthe shaft and enabling it to slide longitudinally thereon freely. Each spacing ring has means, such as a pin 35, united thereto, the inner end of which fits in and is slidable in the groove; 30-32, of'the shaft and presents the rotation of the spacing'ring relative to the shaft.

The periphery of eachspacing ring is threaded with a relatively fine thread, 28", (preferably of 1 a gauge permitting 24 to 48 threads per lineal inch of the-shaft).

Upon the shafts 16- respectively I mount a series of supporting members 2|2'|' each of which has a central bore of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the spacing rings 28. These bores are provided withinternal threads 28" (Figure 6) which are complementary to the external threads 28" of the spacing rings 28 and designed to mesh therewith.

The supporting members and spacing rings may be of any desired length or thickness, but I prefer to form them of about the same thickness,

into their corresponding supporting members, the blade guides will hold the blades about threeeighths of an inch apart and when the rings are unscrewed to the full distance permitted by the stops 4 and 24' and 39a, the guides will hold the blades about half an inch apart. In common practice the most desired thickness for slices of bread have been found to run within these limits.

In assembling each series of guides, each spacing ring is screwed just half way into the bores of one of the supporting members before being placed upon the shafts lG-l8 and when so assembled, it is obvious that when the shafts are turned in one direction, the rings 28 will be screwed into the supporting members 2'I-2|' so as to permit each series of supporting members to be contracted.

In order to permit the spacing rings to force the supporting members apart when the shafts I6|8 are turned in the opposite direction, I mount between one end of each spacing ring and the supporting member adjacent thereto, a washer 36, which may be of thin steel or other suitable material. These washers are provided with bores 31 whichpermit them to slide freely upon the shafts Iii-l8, but are too small to permit the spacing rings 28 to enter them. Thus the free end of each spacing ring abuts against the washer adjacent thereto while its opposite end is screwed into the next succeeding supporting member.

When proportioned as above described, the threaded portions of the rings in contact with the supporting members, in combination with the washers, will afford a firm support for the supporting members and the guide fingers united thereto.

I use the term ends as applied to the spacing rings to designate the fiat surfaces thereof. The outermost supporting member of each series may bear against'the block 39a or 25 or against the spring 31a, and the innermost supporting member threaded sleeve or block, 39a, which may be.

of each series may be held stationary and kept in fixed position by the hubs 4 or 5 or the stops 6a.

In order to prevent rotation of the supporting members, 21-21, upon the shafts carrying them, I prefer to form integral with each supporting member an extension, 21", which has a bore, 21a, formed therein adapting it to be mounted and to slide freely upon a non-rotatableshaft, Iii-I9, one end of which may be secured in the hub, 6-4, or the saddle, 39, hereafter described, so as to extend transversely of the machine parallel to the shaft, l8.

The outer end of the shaft, I8, is provided with threads, l8, which are relativelymuch coarser than the threads of the spacing rings, I prefer a pitch for these threads of about one inch for each inch in diameter of the shaft.

Upon the threaded end, I mount an internally formed with an extension, 21", to embrace and slide upon the shaft, I9, as shown in Figure 10, or which may be a sleeve, 49, provided with a handle, 50, as shown in Figure 14, and manually operable .by said handle.

Another form of sleeve is shown in Figure 2 .in which the sleeve, 25, is provided with a beveled face which bears against a stop-block, 22, having a beveled flange, 22, united thereto which corresponds to the beveled face, 33, -of the sleeve, 25. The sleeve, 25, is provided with an extension, 21", corresponding to the extensions ofthe supas shown in Figure 8, and of such proportions 7 that when the spacing rings are entirely screwed porting members and likewise slidably mounted upon the shaft, l9.

Each supporting member, 21-21, has united thereto a slotted member, 3| adapted to contact the blades by means of a slot, l4-l4", formed therein, and to space the blades of each series to correspond with the spacing of the supporting members.

In Figures 1, 5, etc., I have shown such guiding members in the form of slotted fingers, but it is obvious that any desired form of guide may be united thereto or the supporting members themselves may be sufliciently enlarged to contact the blades and may be slotted to receive them.

When my invention is applied to a bread slicing machine of the reciprocating type,.an additional shaft may be utilized as heretofore described to keep the spacing members in a fixed angular position with reference to the shaft upon which the spacing rings are mounted, but in order to reduce weight, I prefer to keep the supporting members from rotation by forming the upper and slotted and those slots straddle and embrace theends of the slicing blades, 6|, which may be secured therein by pins, 62. In such cases, the spacing of the pin holes in the blades is made small enough so that driving the pins into place, will cause tension upon the blades and tighten them sufficiently without the use ofsprings, but it is obvious that, if desired, any of the spring or other resilient fastening means in common,

use may be employed. a

As an alternative fastening and in order to permit angular adjustment of the spacing membars relativeto the cutting plane of the blades,

I mount a saddle, 39, upon the hub, 5, and mount one end of the shaft, l9', in the saddle, 39, instead of in the hub, 5.

The saddle, 39, is provided with a slot, 45,

. through which cap screws, ll-M, extend into the hub to secure the saddle to the hub. By loosening these cap screws, the saddle may be turned into any desired angular position around the hub within its limits and then fixed in such position by tightening the cap screws.

Feed and discharge tables, 43 and 45, supported by arms '42 and 46, may be mounted upon an extension, 44,.united to the saddle and in that way the angle of the feed and discharge tables may be varied to correspond with the angle of the fingers, 3|. vide'd with a similar saddle so that the angular position of the upper supporting members may be similarly varied.-

It will'be noted that with the formsshown in Figures 2 and 11, the end sleeves or blocks, and 39a, travel along the shaft whenever itr. rotated by the hand-wheel, l5, a distance equal to the sum of the distances of the :travel of the spacing members upon that part1 shaft and that this movement isautomatic in both directions, while with the form of sleeve The upper hub, 4, may be pro- 1 or nut shown in Figure 14, the sleeve, 49, mustbe turned away from the spacing members before the shaft, Hi, can be rotated and after being so turned away, the shaft may be rotated so as up any slack there may be between them and the extensions, 21", are slid onto the correspondthis operation must be manually performed.

Another .form for automatically retracting the spacing members is shown in Figure 4 and consists of a spring,- 3111, mounted upon the end. of the shaft, l8, one end of which bears against a pin, 38, and the other end of which bears against and exerts pressure upon the adjacent spacing member, 21'. This spring must be of sufficient strength and length to cause the spacing membersto travel the necessary distance to take up ,any slack that might be left between the spacing members when the shaft is so turned as to cause the spacing rings to be turned so as to re-enter, more or less, the supporting members.

In order to synchronize the spacing of the spacing members upon both the upper and lower shafts, any of the means of so doing in common use for similar purposes may be utilized, one form of which is shown in my co-pending application dated October' 25, 1937, filed October 30, 1937, Serial No. 171,866.

A convenient form for this apparatus is shown in Figures 15, 16-and 17 wherein a wormgear, 55a, is mounted upon the corresponding end of each of the upper and lower shafts, 54, and a vertical shaft, 55, is mounted in the frame carrying at each end thereof worms, 54 a, which mesh with the worm gears, 55a, upon the shafts, 54.

A hand-wheel, 55, and the shaft, 55, will turn the worms, 54a, and cause them to turn the worm gears, 55a. The shaft,55, being at one side of the frame, will clear the loaves of bread being sliced and may be permanently mounted in the upper and lower frame members, 51.

The frame members, 5|, may be provided with the usual V-shaped guides, 52, mounted to travel vertically in V-shaped grooves formed in the side frames, 50, of. the slicing machine.

The reciprocating frames comprising upper and lower sleeves, 5|, and side members, 53, are preferably cast integral, but may be built up or assembled in any desired way.

In the operation of my invention, the apparatus embodying it is first assembledby inserting the pins, 35, in the respective spacing rings, 28, and then screwing the spacing rings, 28, into their corresponding spacing members, 21, until the edges coincide. with the spacing rings inside of them are then slid upon the shaft, l8, with the pins, 35, projecting into the groove, 32, and at the same time ing Shaft, 19'.

Between successive spacing members, the flat steel washers, 36, are inserted and slid upon the shaft, l8.

The sleeve, 39a, is likewise mounted uponthe shaft, l8, and screwed down to its desired position, and the extension, 21", is then slid upon the end of the shaft, I9.

The shafts, l8 and 19, are then inserted in the corresponding bores in the hub, 4, and the handwheel, I1, is secured upon the end of the shaft, l8, and the shaft, l9, secured in place by a pin.

The spacing members, 21,

secured in the hub, 5, and the shaft, l9, secured in a suitable opening formed in the saddle.

The cutting blades, l4, are then mounted upon the pulleys, 8 and 9, in crossed or figure 8 form and the blades inserted in the slots of the finger, Y 3| and 3|.

The blades are then tightened by the eccentric, l2, and the machine is then ready to start.

The spaced pulleys, eccentric adjustment and driving means for band-blade machines are in common use and well known and I make no claim to those parts of the machine in this application. when my apparatus is applied to a reciproeating machine, bearings, 54!), are mounted upon the ends of the shaft, 54, in order to position them within the sleeves, 5|, and the spacing units, with the intervening steel washers, are mounted upon the shafts, 55, together with the sleeves, 39a, or other retracting devices, as desired, are mounted upon the shafts between the bearings. 54b, similarly to the method above described, but with this difference, that as the spacing members, 51, ina reciprocating machine must be spaced to carry alternate blades, the spacing rings, 59, must be longer than the spacing rings, 28.

-In the-reciprocating machine, instead of spaclng members carrying slotted fingers to guide the blades, they carry slotted fingers or extensions, 51a, in which the'blades, 9|, are fastened by pins, 62, and instead of the hand-wheel, 56, being attached directly to the end of the shaft, 54, it is,

preferable to mount it upon a shaft carrying a work, 5411., because the tension of the blades upon the bearing members, 51, will cause so much friction that greater power is required to turn the shaft, 54, and the spacing rings, 59.

. It is obvious that various modifications of the apparatus shown may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and-I do not limit my claims to the precise forms shown and described herein.

I claim:

1. A mechanical movement for spacing apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft, a series of externally threaded spacing rings keyed to but slidable on such shaft, a correspond ng series of non-rotatable internally threaded supporting members having the internal threads of each respective supporting member arranged to mesh in whole or in part with the external threads of its corresponding spacing ring to form pairs, each pair comprising one spacing ring and the supporting member threaded thereon, and a series of washers each having an external diameter greater than the external diameter of the adjacen threaded spacing rings slidably mounted upon to release or reduce such pressure as and when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, and means comprising a stop united to the shaft at one end thereof and a non-rotatable block threaded upon the shaft at the other end thereof and threaded upon the shaft with threads having a pitch equal If the saddle, 39, is utilized, the shaft, I8, is to the sum of the pitches of all the spacing rings.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, and means comprising a stop united to the shaft at one end thereof and a non-rotatable block threaded upon the shaft at the other end thereof and threaded upon the shaft with threads having a pitch equal to the sum of the pitches of all the spacing rings to permit spreading of the succeeding supporting members when the shaft is turned in one direction and to retract said spacing members uniformly when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction.

5. A mechanical movement comprising a structure as defined in claim 1, in combination with means for rotating the shaft in either'direction.

6. A mechanical movement comprising a structure as defined in claim 1, in combination with means slidingly mounted upon the shaft to contract the spacing of the spacing members, washers and spacing rings when the shaft is turned in a direction which causes the spacing rings to enter farther into the supporting members with which they are in mesh respectively.

7. A mechanical movement for blade-spacing apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon a plurality of spacing rings keyed to but slidable on such shaft and having external threads, 9. corresponding plurality of non-rotatable internally threaded supporting members mounted upon the spacing rings respectively upon the threads in mesh, and a plurality of washers each having an external diameter greater than the external diameter of the adjacent threaded spacing rings slidably mounted upon suchshaft and interposed respectively between the rings carrying the supporting members, the parts. upon the shaft being arranged in series in the following order throughout the series, to-wit: a supporting member, a spacing ring, a washer, and the bore of the washers being smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the adjacent spacing rings.

8. A mechanical movement for blade-spacing apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of externally threaded spacing rings keyed to and slidable upon said shaft, a corresponding plurality of annular blade-supporting members mounted upon said spacing rings and having internal threads in mesh with the external threads of the spacing rings for at least a part of the length of said blade-supporting members, a corresponding plurality of washers slidably mounted upon the shaft each washerhaving a bore smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the spacing rings and acting to separate one end of each spacing ring from the next succeeding blade-supporting member, and means to secure the blade-supporting members against rotation.

9. A mechanical movement for blade-spacing apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality ,of externally threaded spacing rings keyed to and slidable upon said shaft, a corresponding plurality of annular blade-supporting members mounted upon said spacing rings and having in the shaft, and extensions formed upon the supporting members respectively having bores corresponding in size to the crossbar and slidably mounted-thereon.

10. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting frame having a series of slicing blades movably mounted thereon, of a rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame and extending transversely of the machine parallel to the cutting plane or planes of the blades, a groove formed in said shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shafts, means comprising pins or keys united to the spacing rings and extending into said groove to cause said rings to rotate with said shaft, external threads formed upon the peripheries of the spacing rings, a corresponding plurality of annular internally threaded guiding and supporting members separately mounted upon said spacing rings respectively, with threads in mesh with the threads of said rings and in paired relation, each ring and supporting member thereon constituting a pair, spacing washers having a central bore corresponding in diameter with the shaft and having an external diameter'larger than the spacing rings slidably mounted'upon said shaft in alternation with the aforesaid pairs, means to secure the supporting members against rotation, and means to manually rotate the shaft in either direction.

11. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting frame having a series of slicing blades movably mounted thereon, of a rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame and extending transversely of the machine parallel to the cutting plane or planes of the blades, a groove formed in said shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shafts, means comprising pins or keys united to the spacing rings and extending into said groove to cause said rings to rotate with said shaft, external threads formed upon the peripheries of the spacing rings, a corresponding plurality of annular internally threaded guiding and supporting members separately mounted upon said spacing rings respectively, with-threads in mesh with the threads of said rings and in paired relation, each ring and supporting member thereon constituting a pair, spacing washers having a central bore corresponding in diameter with the shaft and having external diameter larger than the spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shaft in alternation with the aforesaid pairs, means to secure the supporting members against rotation, and means to manually rotate the shaft in either direction, all of the threads of said spacing rings and supporting members ,having the same pitch and direction.

12. In a bread slicing machine, the combination with a supporting frame having a series of slicing blades movably mounted thereon, of a rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame and extending transversely of the machine parallel to the cutting plane or planes of the blades, a groove 'formed in said shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of spacing rings slidably.

mounted upon said shafts, means comprising pins or keys united to the spacing rings and extending into said groove to cause said rings to rotate with said shaft, external threads formed upon the peripheries of the spacing rings, a corresponding plurality of annular internally threaded guiding and supporting members separately mounted upon said spacing rings respectively, with threads in mesh with the threads of said rings and in paired relation. each ring and'supporting member thereon constituting a pair and all of the threads of said spacing rings and supporting -members having the same pitch and direction,

spacing washers having a central bore correspondingin diameter with the shaft and having I porting frame having a series of slicing blades. 20

an external diameter larger than the spacingrings slidably mounted upon said shaftin alternation with the aforesaid pairs, means to secure,

the supporting members against rotation, and a manually operable handwheel .united to the shaft at one end to rotate the shaft in either direction.

13. In a bread slicing machine,- the combination with a structure as set out in claim' 12, and a stop united to the opposite end'of the shaft to limit the travel of the series of pairs in that direction. I

14. A bread slicing machine comprising a supmovably mounted thereon, of a rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame and extending transversely of the machine parallel to the cutting plane or planes of the blades,la groove formed in said shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shafts, pins or keys united to the spacing rings and extending into said groove to cause said. -rings to rotate with said shaft, external threads.

formed upon the peripheries of thespacing rings, acorresponding plurality of annular internally threaded non-rotatable supporting members separately mounted upon said spacing'rings respectively, with'threads in mesh with the threads of said rings and in paired relation, each ring and ringsand extending into said groove to causesaid" supporting member thereon constituting a pair,

spacing washers having a central bore corresponding in diameter with the shaft and having an external diameter larger than the spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shaft in, alternation with the aforesaid pairs, and slotted fingers united to the supporting members respectively to straddle and space the slicing blades.

15. A bread slicing machine comprising a sup porting frame having a series of slicing blades movably mounted thereon, of a rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame and extending transversely of the machine parallel to the cutting plane or planes of the blada, a groove formed in said shaft extending longitudinally thereof. a plurality of spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shafts, pins or keys united to the spacing rings to rotate with said shaft, external threads formed upon the peripheries of the spacing rings, a corresponding plurality of annular internally threaded non-rotatable supporting members separately mounted upon said spacing. rings respectiveiy, with threads in mmh with the threads of said rings and in paired relation, each ring and supporting member thereon constituting a pair,

spacing washers having a central bore corresponding. in diameter with the shaft and having an external diameter larger than the spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shaft in alternation with the aforesaid pairs. and. lingers united to the supporting members respectivelyand also united-to one end o'fthe slicing blades respectively.

16; A bread slicing machine -as described in claim 14, an extension'formed' integral with each of the supporting members. and having a bore formed therein, and an auxiliary shaft mounted upon the frame parallel to said rotatable shaft and extending through the bores of the aforesaid extensions to secure the supporting members against rotation with the rotatable shaft.

17. A bread slicing machine as described in claim 14, anextension formed integral with each of the supporting members and having a bore formed therein, an auxiliary shaft mounted upon l the frame parallel to said rotatable shaft and extending through the bores of the aforesaid extensions to secure the supporting members against rotation with the rotatable shaft, a handwheel united to the rotatable shaft to rotate same in either direction, and a compression spring mounted upon the outer end of the rotatable shaft to exert continuous pressure upon the outermost supporting member.

1a. A bread slicing machine as defined in claim 14, an extension formed integral with each of the supporting members and vhaving a bore formed therein, an auxiliary, shaft mounted upontheframe parallel to said rotatable shaft and extending through the bores of the aforesaid extensions to secure the supporting members against rotation with the rotatable shaft, a handwheel united to the rotatable shaft to rotate same in either direction, and a sleeve threaded upon the opposite end of saidshaft to engage the outermost supporting member.

1-9. A bread slicing machine as defined in claim 14, and a corresponding rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame spaced apart from the first shaft and having similar series 'of spacing rings, washers, non-rotatable supporting members and fingers mounted thereon, the slicing blades being pivotally united to the fingers of one series of supporting members and being united by a resilient connection to the fingers of the other series of supporting members.

20. In a bread slicing machine comprising a supporting frame having a series of slicing blades movably mounted thereon, of a rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame and extending transversely of the machine parallel to the cutting plane or planes of the blades, a groove formed in said shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of spacing rings slidably mounted upon said shafts, pins or keys united to the spacing rings and extending into said groove to cause said rin s to rotate with said shaft, externalthreads formed upon the peripheries of the spacing rings, a corresponding plurality of annular internally thread-' rotatable shaft mounted upon the frame spacedapart from the first shaft and having similar series of spacing rings, washers, non-rotatable supporting members and fingers mounted thereon, theslicing blades being rigidly united to the fingers of one series ofsupporting members and being united by a resilient connection to the fingers of the other series of supporting members,

stops united to the shafts respectively at one end, and manually operable handwheels mounted upon the other ends of the shafts respectively to rotate same'in either direction.

nannvrcamim.

rings respectively, 

